Consecration.

was first initiated , when the grand principles of Masonry were first implanted in my bosom . I feel certain that the example set by your Worshipful Master will bear its fruit , not only now , but in times to come . The name of Stanley , of Lord Derby , will be handed down to posterity through you and others as being a bulwark of Freemasonry , and as an honour to our Order .

Pointing to the banner of the new Order reared behind Lord Derby ' s chair , he paid : The banner stands there white as the honour of your Worshipful Master . The motto is " Sans Changer " ; long may that motto remain the motto of the family , and long may that family be represented by him who represents it now . No one can fulfil with greater ability the duties

attached to Lord Derby s distinguished position than the one who presides over us to-night . May Providence long spare such a noble nobleman to us , and may he long take an active part in the work of the Brotherhood . May " Stanley for ever " be a cry to which Lancashire will ever rally , and may all who follow him be men equally imbued with the principles of high nobility .

The toast was drunk with the highest honours , and those present made the room ring again with their singing of the old political war cry , " Stanley for ever . " Lord Derby , in responding , said : I am deeply moved by the terms in which my kind friend of many years , Brother Starkie , has proposed this toast . I feel that he has left a great deal out

of sight , and on the other hand that he has drawn his pictures with too telling colours . I wish the subject of it were by any means worthy of the honour you have paid to him . But I am not egotistical enough to take to myself the whole of this toast or even one-half of it . The principle of our Masonic Order , if I understand it right , is within all reasonable limits a community

of property , and I venture on that assumption to trust that some of the kind welcome which friends from various Lodges to-night have given to our body , is really addressed not only to myself , but to my Brethren of the new Lodge , who unite with me in the feeling that we owe much to those who have graced our proceedings . It may , perhaps , not be out of place if I express the

feelings which guided us in the creation of the new Lodge . Preston rejoiced in several Lodges , of which the membership was good . The number of Lodges was , however , small , and it was recognised that the establishment of a new Lodge would make promotion for the members quicker , and relieve the other Lodges of much of the pressure of work they have

performed so wisely and so well for so many years . This idea has been mooted for a good many years , but a fortuitous meeting not long after I came home from Canada led , I think , somewhat to the events of to-night . It was felt that amongst the wants of Preston—and they are many—there was no building wholly suitable to Masonic purposes , but we did not consider ourselves

justified in launching out in the erection of a new building altogether . A slight alteration to this hotel was made , however , whereby it became a much more convenient place for the meetings , not only of this Lodge , but of the other Lodges also . In that work I must give all praise to the Senior and Junior Wardens of this Lodge . They met me on several occasions ,

went into details most carefully , and though we have not achieved an ideal success , we have what I trust will for many years prove a comfortable home in which the various Lodges may hold their meetings . My right worshipful friend , who was good enough to propose this toast , was kind enough to expatiate on those who have gone before me , and whose name is borne by this new

Lodge . From a Masonic point of view I do not think it would be wise to pursue the comparison , though it was gracefully and cleverly put . If he had gone back to former days he would have found that members of this family were addicted not to a constructive , but rather to a destructive policy , and the result of which was not quite so pronounced a unanimity of this Province

as existed to-day . The fact is that Masonry has taken a hold of Lancashire in a way second to nothing that has taken place in any Province of the world . East and west , it is a narrow border that divides us ; for , except in name , there was no dividing line . The Provinces were bound closely together , an evidence of which was found in the readiness of Colonel Starkie , in the

absence of our own Provincial Grand Master , to come and perform the ceremony which consecrated this Lodge to-day , and which ratified its claim to be placed amongst the Masonic Lodges of the county . That ceremony was performed with dignity and clearness , and brought out at once the full solemnity and importance of the occasion to those who might not have

appreciated . it hitherto , and expressed those unchangeable sentiments dear to the heart of every Mason . He was good enough to bring amongst us one whose memory we are able to look upon as a perfect miracle of Masonic law . I have never heard a charge or a recital of the portions of Holy Writ to be

read on such occasions delivered so effectively , or with a fuller weight and dignity of the sacerdotal honours . Addressing Colonel Starkie , the Earl said : We are under a deep obligation to you for your kindness in coming forward to-day , and it is not unnatural that in the order of this evening ' s proceedings I may , without resuming my seat , be permitted to pass from the thanks

Consecration.

which I must humbly offer for the toast you have drunk , to ask you to respond to a toast which I am sure you will heartily receive . I ask you , Brethren , to drink to the health of the Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire Colonel Starkie , the Consecrating Officer of our Lodge to-day . As a much younger and much humbler Mason than yourself , Sir , it

would ill become our respective positions if I should endeavour to expatiate ou the services which in your life and honoured career you have rendered to Masonry . Amongst all your numerous associations , even at the time when the chase claimed a little of your time , you were always ready , without any considerations of convenience , and at personal

sacrifice , to assist our Masonic body , whether it be in one Province or the other . The crowning effort , if we may venture to speak , is the consecration of our Lodge , the ceremony attached to which received a greater lustre by reason of your presence . Our welcome is no idle welcome . On all occasions when

youmay be good enough to visit this Lodge you will find you have established an undying claim on the hearts of the members of the Stauley of Preston Lodge , and I hope those feelings will remain in accordance with the motto you have duly inscribed on your banner , " sans changer "—without change .

Colonel Starkie , after the toast had been enthusiastically honoured , responded . He said that it was not he who had honoured the Stanley Lodge ; it was the Lodge which had honoured him in asking him to perform the ceremony . He questioned whether they were not the largest Provinces of Great Britain and its dependencies . Both Provinces worked hard , in friendly rivalry , and he hoped they would long continue to so

maintain the great Masonic charities and advance the principles on which they based their great fraternity . He was cradled in Masonry in the Province of West Lancashire , and had served in every office , and when one came back , as it were , to one ' s native heath , it made him rejoice that they were all Brethren , all animated by the feelings of charity , hospitality , and friendship , which he hoped would never die . He felt certain that the new Lodge would flourish , and be a benefit to the Order .

Bro . T . Nevitt P . Prov . G . S . of W . proposed the visitors . It had been said that , they in Preston ought to be proud of the name of Stanley . Were they not proud of it ? He hoped Lord Derby would long be spared to help them , not only with Masonic work , but also in the prosperity of the town of Preston . Other toasts followed . — " Preston Herald . "

Ad00502

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